This leaflet answers some of the common questions people ask about Xylocaine. It does not contain all the information that is known about Xylocaine.

It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.

All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor will have weighed the risks of you taking Xylocaine against the benefits they expect it will have for you.

If you have any concerns about being given this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again.

Xylocaine is used to prevent or relieve pain, but it will not put you to sleep.

Xylocaine is also used after surgery to relieve pain. It can also be used to make childbirth less painful.

Xylocaine belongs to a group of medicines called local anaesthetics. It is injected into the body where it makes the nerves unable to pass messages to the brain.

Depending on the amount used, Xylocaine will either totally stop pain or will cause a partial loss of feeling.

Xylocaine is sometimes combined with adrenaline to make it last longer. Adrenaline makes the blood vessels at the site of injection narrower, which keeps the Xylocaine where it is needed for a longer time.

Your doctor will have explained why you are being treated with Xylocaine and told you what dose you will be given.

Follow all directions given to you by your doctor carefully.

They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.

Your doctor may prescribe this medicine for another use. Ask your doctor if you want more information.

It may not be safe for you to take Xylocaine if you have any of these conditions.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including

ones to control your heart beat

ones for blood pressure (anti-hypertensives)

ones for epilepsy or fits

ones for depression

cimetidine

any medicines that you buy at the chemist, supermarket or health food shop.

These medicines may affect the way Xylocaine works.

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you what to do if you are taking any of these medicines.

If you have not told your doctor about any of these things, tell them before you are given any Xylocaine.

Xylocaine will be injected by your doctor into the skin, near a single nerve, or into an area which contains a large number of nerves.

This will result in an area of numbness at the site of injection, near the site of injection or in an area that may seem unrelated to the site of injection. The last will be the case if you are given an EPIDURAL injection (an injection around the spinal cord).

Xylocaine should not be injected directly into the blood.

The dosage you will be given will depend on your body size, age and the type of pain relief required. Your doctor will have had a lot of experience injecting Xylocaine or other local anaesthetics and will choose the best dose for you. They will be willing to discuss this decision with you.

Overdose

The doctor giving you Xylocaine will be experienced in the use of local anaesthetics, so it is unlikely that you will be given an overdose.

However, if you are particularly sensitive to Xylocaine, or the dose is accidentally injected directly into your blood, you may develop problems for a short time with your sight or hearing. You may get a numb feeling in or around the mouth, feel dizzy or stiff, or have twitchy muscles.

Whenever you are given Xylocaine, equipment will be available to care for you if an overdose happens.

Things to be careful of

Be careful driving or operating machinery after you have been given Xylocaine.

You may be drowsy and your reflexes may be slow.

Do not drink alcohol while you are being given Xylocaine.

If you drink alcohol while you are being given Xylocaine your blood pressure may drop making you feel dizzy and faint.

Please talk to your doctor or pharmacist about these possibilities if you think they may bother you.

Storage

Xylocaine will be stored by your doctor or pharmacist under the recommended conditions.

2mL and 5mL Polyamp presentations, Xylocaine with adrenaline in glass ampoules and single dose vials should be kept in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.

20mL Polyamp presentations, Xylocaine in glass ampoules should be kept in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C.

Tell your doctor or nurse as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are being given Xylocaine.

Xylocaine will help relieve pain in most people, but it may have unwanted side-effects. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.

Ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.

Tell your doctor or nurse if you notice any of the following and they worry you:

tremors

nervousness

dizziness

blurred vision

drowsiness

ringing in the ears

numbness

feeling strange (disoriented)

nausea (feeling sick)

vomiting

These are all mild side effects of Xylocaine.

After an epidural injection you may develop a headache or backache which is not related to the medicine used. These can, on rare occasions, last for some months after the injection is given.

If Xylocaine is given wrongly, or you are very sensitive to it, it sometimes causes

fits

unconsciousness

breathing problems

low blood pressure

slow heart beat

collapse

If you are sensitive to sodium metabisulphite (found in adrenaline containing preparations), it may cause life-threatening reactions or less severe asthmatic episodes.

These are all serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention.

Some people may get other side effects while being given Xylocaine.

Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell.

Presentation Xylocaine Ampoules (with Adrenaline 1:100,000) Injection

Xylocaine Ampoules (with Adrenaline 1:100,000) Injection

Xylocaine plain and adrenaline containing solutions are clear and colourless.